tenney



F. TENNEY.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-'23, 19|9.

JF. TENNEY.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.23, 1919.

Patented @@I.. II, 1921.,

F..TENNEY.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT23| 1919 1,393,408, rammed 00A. n, 19211.;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

essaies.

"FREDTJJNNEY, orfiioiiierisriiia,,iiiieiiiiiiiii` n GAME.' 7

Specification of Letters Patent; Patr-lifted @@113., 1li,

Application iiieicctoiuer `ze, i919. VVssii-i Nq. 332,791.

`To all Iwhom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, Fiano TENNEY, of 26 Bifickiiieham road, Doncaster, *,England, have invented new and useful` Improvements in Games; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andnexact dequickness.

scription ofthe same. p n

` Thepresent invention hasforfobjectto provide a game suitable for either indoor, or outdoor, use, and for children, or adult, players, i `which will provide `considerable amusement while at `the same `time calling `for the exercise of skill, judgment, and" The `gameapparatus according to my invention `comprises a barrier adapted to be placed betweenthe playersof opposite sides,

Y and formed, or provided, with a` single aper-Y ture, and the Amain idea of the game is toeX- changea shuttlecockorfsiniilar object .be

u tweentheopposingA sides of players by driving it through the aperture. instead of over a net as iii-.lawn tennis, badminton, and

other games. The game maybe played under rules `similar-to those in `use for lawn tennis, or badmintom-but Vaccording to the preferredformof the gaine it is `played witlia feathered, or` lilie, shuttlecock device, somewhat similar to an ordinary shuttlecoclr, :but possessing much greater` resiliency, so that itcan be keptin play affter striking the ground, orthe table. uponv whicliit is played. An improved shuttle cock `device oit'V this kind formsthepsubject matter of my concurrent application for Laim ritieni, semi No. seared-sied 0a.@ 22.3.1919., Y i. `Y n ln `order to' render the aperture clearly visible to the players and `at `the same time 4to enable then'ito see the movements'of their opilionents, part ofthe .barrier surrounding i (The aperture ispreferably formed by a white transparent inateriahaslinen gauze, andin ordei'to adapt theapparatus to siiitplayers of different degrees of' skill,:th e size ofthe i `aperture ispreferably adapted.. to be'` justediaccording to requirements." n mccording. to another feature .of the" in; vention theheight of they aperture abovefthe ouiid,or'table, is also adjustable tosuit s players or different/heights or .to intra-.irse

further diiiiculty into `V`thang-aine.:` i :By ,this` means one'apparatus may beadapted for the use of adults oiycliildren asrequired. n The'apparatiis according to myinvention may beconstructed in various sizes, .but preferablyfor use as an indoor game itis constructed of a size suitable'for mounting on a table, and for use as an outdoor game it is constructed of a Asize suitablefor a small lawn. In the following description various examples of 'apparatus for indoor use are described, but it willieadily be Vobvious how Such examples `may be ,adapted lfor outdoor use.".

Furtherfeatures of lthe invention will hereinafter.appear from the claims, and n from the following description ofthe accompanying drawings, which illustratevarious examples of apparatus eriibo'dying` my invention. i In the accompanying drawing-s j Figure, 1 is a perspective view of one irm of apparatus mountedforuseoii. a ta,q

` Fig.` 2 is an elevation of a' secondform Y apparatus.

.Fig. 3 is a sectional,ViewY of one of the upriglits `of the apparatus shown iiilFig. 2.

Figa is an elevation, of a third form `of apparatus.

Fig; fi is an elevation` partially insection3 of a fourth form of apparatus. .Y p Fig.` (Sis an elevation of a fifth formgof apparatus.

Fig. 7 shows the preferred form of shut` tlecock', for use with the apparatus. p

Figs. 8 13012 inclusive are views to'an en` larged scalev of certain details 0f the apparatus.` n

Figi'. 13 is an elevation illustrating analternative means for varying 4the. effective size of a hoop-shaped aperture frame.

Fig. 14 isan elevationof` the upper part ofa sixth form of apparatus,and

rections. Y

Referring to 1, the apparatus, .which Y. n, i, Fig. 15 is an elevation of a modified form of arectangular aperture frame provided with means for varying its size in, bothl dr ioo p is shown mounted ona table in positionfor p play, eoinprises twofuprights 1 formedv with.

lroolrsor eyes 34in any suitable manner.

Additional central support is provided by` snitablehooks and eyes attached to the lower barof the frame-and to the upper edge of the screen respectively. -L

The provision of .the hinges inthe frame, and-foi thelegs of this apparatus, enable it tobe folded up -into a comparatively small space as will be:readilyunderstood.

Referring to Fig. Ithe apparatus `shown therein comprises a plain hoop 35 connected by asuitableijoint member 36 with a `rod 37 adapted to slide ina tubular standard 38 provided with threeV supporting .legs 39. The hoop may be fixed at 4'any -desired height byxmeans of the clamping screw 40` provided inthe tubular standard 38, and

.adapted to` grip the rod `37.

thumb screw 46,' while the rod `42 passes throughthe hole 47 and the clamping mem*` ber 44` can be secured 'at any desired" point vthereonby means of the thumb screw 48, the

head of. which is-preferably formed as an eye to which the supporting stays .9 are adapted to .be secured. i i

The lower `ends ofthe rods are provided with abraceinember-49 pivoted at one end to a rod 42 at 50, and adapted to pass lat the other end through a slot providedon the other rod 42;` The 4'slotis preferably formed. byia metalbridge piece 51 secured to the rod, and provided with aclamping screw 52;V f

lt will beV clear thatthe brace member 49 maybe .clamped by thesorew 52 at any desired point ofits length, so enablingithe distance between the upper parts of the rods 42 to be varied, whereby the height of the hoop above the ground may be adjust-ed to meet requirements. The sliding clamping members 44 enable the hoop to be fixed se`- curely to the rods 42 in any of the various positions that may be assumed by the.

rods 42. i

"The provision lof ythe brace member 49 takes off much ofthe strain. from the hoop when the "stays 9 are tightened. up, and thereby prevents the hoop from being pulled i out of shape.

The hoop members used in any of .the forms ofwapparatus `hereinbefore described may bemadeadjustablein` size in the man- Yner illustrated by Fig. 9. 4'lherhoop is formed by a thin'flexible strip, or lath, of wood, metal, or other suitable material adapted to be bent into circular shape and to have its ends secured in any desired position in relation to each other by means of clamping members 53, which may be permaneiitly secured to the respective ends of the strip, or not, as desired.` V

In Fig. 1() is illustrated an alternative method of forming a hoop of adjustable size. According to this construction the hoop is formed by a flexible tubular, `or partially tubular, latli 57 of `metal, or other j suitable material, one end-of which is adapted torfit into and slide within the opposite end, a clamping screw 58 being providedto clamp the inner member at any desired position within the outer member.

rlhe preferred form of shuttlecock, ac-y cording to my concurrent application for Letters Patent, Serial No.. 332,790, filed Oct. 23, 1919 for use in connection with the game is illustratedby Fig. 7. `It comprises a base 54 to t-he upper surface of which is secured a retarding, or steadying device formed by the cone of feathers 55, and to the lower surface of which is detachably secured a highly resilient member, formed for eX `ample by a pneumatic india rubber ball 56.

Fig.. 13 'of the drawings illustrates an alternative method whereby the effective playing aperture of a hoop member such as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, may be adjusted to suit players of different degrees of skill, or to increase or decrease the dificulty of the game. .According to this construction the hoop memberis provided with a plus rality of eyes or hooks 57 disposed at equal.

distances around its circumference, anda white cord or tape is adapted to be threaded through the eyes to produce playing apertures of various sizes and. shapes `in the manner indicated in the draivings byy the dotted lines. By threading the through all of the eyes a playing aperture only slightly smaller than the full size of the hoop is produced, Vwhile by employing only four of the eyes or hooks the smallest aperture is produced, suoli aperture being rectangular in shape and disposed with its length vertically or horizontally as may be desired. Obviously any number of eyes may be provided on the hoop to give any desired range of adjustment for the size of the aperture.

Referring to Fig. 14 of the `drawings the construction of apparatus shown therein` comprises a pair of standards 58 which may be supported in a vertical position in any suitable manner. Slidably mounted on 4these standards yby means of the sliding screw clamps 59 is the rectangular or square aperture frame 60, the sides of which may be provided with eyes or hooks 57 for use in forming` playing apertures of different tape shapes and sizes" in a manner similar to that described with reference to Fig. 13.

' Instead of defining the edge oi the playing aperture by means of a white cord or tape there may be provided a number oi' borders 'of varying widths-preferably of gauze or the like-and inclosing openings of various shapes or sizes. Any selected border may then be attached by hooks and eyes, or by lacing, to the aperture frame 60. The frame 60 is made collapsible by ofithe frame to which they are pivoted.

According to the modified construction of rectangular aperture frame illustrated by Fig. 15, one or both pairs of opposite sides of the frame are adapted to have'their lengths varied to produce apertures of different sizes. For this purpose each side so adapted is divided into two parts 64 each of which is provided with a longitudinal slot 65. Each part 64 is also providedat its end with a bolt 66 having a winged nut 67, and engaged in the slot of the adjacent part 64. The two parts 64 may thus be adjusted longitudinally in relation to each other and may be clamped together in any desired position by means of the two winged nuts 67. It will be clear that by this means the `frame may be adjusted to any desired size within the limits formed by the ends of the slots 65. The frame may be mounted on standards in a manner similar to that described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 14:.

While I have hereinbefore described several different constructions of apparatus according to my invention I wish it to be understood that my invention also includes many other constructions which may be devised within the scope of the claims hereinafter set out.

What I claim is r 1. A game apparatus comprising a barrier adapted to be set up between players of opposing sides, a single aperture in said barrier, means whereby the size of said aperture may be varied as desired, and a shuttlecoclr device adapted to be exchanged between the opposing sides of players through said aperture.

2. Av game apparatus comprising a barb rier adapted to be set up between players of opposing sides, a single aperture in said barrier, means whereby thel height of said aperture may be varied as desired, and a shuttleoock device adapted to be exchanged between the opposing sides of players through said aperture.

3. game apparatus comprisin a barrier adapted to be set up between pigayers of opposing sides, a single aperture in said barrier, means whereby the size of said aperture may be varied as desired, means whereby the height of said aperture may be varied as desired, and a shuttlecock device adapted to be exchanged between the opposing sides of playersl through said aperture.

4:. A game apparatus comprising a barrier adapted to be set up between players of opposing sides, a single aperture in said barrier, a frame surrounding said aperture parts of the periphery of said frame being relatively movable to vary the size of the aperture, and a shuttlecock device adapted to be exchanged between the opposing sides of players through said aperture.

5. A game apparatus comprising a barrier adapted to be set up between players of opposing sides, a single aperture in said barrier, a frame surrounding said aperture, means adapted to support said frame in a vertical position at any desired height, and a shuttlecock device adapted to be exchanged between the opposing sides of players through said aperture.

6. A game apparatus comprising a barrier adapted to be set u between players of opposing sides, a singe aperture in said barrier, a frame surrounding said aperture, means for varying the length of the periphery of said frame, means adapted to support said frame in a vertical position at any desired height, and a shuttleoock device adapted to be exchan ed between the opposing sides of players t rough said aperture.

7. A game apparatus comprising a pair of standards, means for supporting said standards in a vertical position, a cross bar connecting the tops of said standards, a second cross bar connecting said standards below the first mentioned cross bar, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the second cross bar on said standards.

8. A game apparatus comprising a pair of standards each of said standards being formed in two parts longitudinally adjustable in relation to each other, means for securing said parts in different longitudinal relations to each other, means for supporting the two lower parts of each standard in vertical position, a cross bar connecting the tops of the upper parts of said standards, and a second cross bar connecting the said upper parts below the first mentioned cross 9. A game apparatus comprising a pair of standards each of said standards being formed in two parts longitudinally adjustable in relation to each other, means for securing said parts in derent longitudinal relations to eachother, means for supportp ing the two lower parts of each standard in vertical position, a cross bar connecting the tops of the upper parts owfsadstandards, a,

second cross ber connecting the said upper parts below the first mentioned cross bar,

and meansfor adjusting the vertical posi-` T. A. THOMPSON.

TRACTOR DRIVING MECHANTSM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.8. 1919. LAQ@ f YPatented 001;. II, IIQZII.

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